Buckling behaviour of dented aluminium alloy cylindrical shell subjected to uniform axial compression

Abstract

Thin-walled cylindrical shells are commonly used in numerous branches of industry. Since they are subjected to axial load, the most common cause of their failure is buckling. This paper provides numerical analysis and experimental verification of the buckling of the thin-walled aluminium alloy cylindrical shell with special regard to the influence of dent, positioned in the middle of the shell. Numerical simulation was performed using ANSYS 16.2, and experimental verification was performed by means of hydraulic press Armavir, PSU-50, which was used to subject the specimen to the increasing axial load until the occurrence of buckling. Comparing the results it was concluded that there is significant decrease of the buckling resistance if compared the values of the specimen with no dent, and the specimen with 2 mm deep dent. On the contrary, resistance of the 2 mm and 4 mm dented specimen is quite similar. Position and shape of the deformations occurred due to buckling are matching if experimental and numerical results are compared.

Keywords

• thin cylindrical shell
• buckling strength
• geometrical imperfections
• dents
• numerical simulations